Improvement in hydraulic cushions for water-pipes



w. Rlc'KETTs.

`Hydraulic 'ushions for Water- Pipes.

Pgrenfedvoct. 23,1871V UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM EIcIIETTs, or CINCINNATI, oIIIo.

'IMPROVEMENTy IN HYDRAULIC CUSHIONS FOR WATER-PIPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 144,141, dated October 28, 1873; application tiled July 3, 187s.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RIcIIETTs, of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Hydraulic Cushion for Water-Pipes, of which the following is a specication: y

My invention consists of a combination of thick rubber disk andan annularly-grooved or indented plate in connection therewith, by which a very elastic medium or cushion is provided for use in water-pipes submitted to sudden hydrostatic shocks or ramming effect by the sudden stoppage of the current therein. My invention further consists, inconnection with this disk and corrugated plate, of a rubber or coiled spring below the plate to give a greater range of elasticity to the cushion when occasion requires it.

The accompanying drawings represent, in vertical section, my water-cushion attached to a water-pipe.

A is an ordinary water-pipe, to which my cushion is attached, and B is the supply or discharge-pipe of the same.` l'During the passage of water through such a pipe uniformly there is no occasion for the presence of my hydraulic cushion, and during such time as the water is flowing regularly it remains inoperative; but upon the sudden cessation in the current in the customary stoppage in use, the cushion becomes operative and useful to such extent that it will often serve to prevent breakage of the pipes or destruction of the `joints. It is constructed as follows: A chamber, C, is provided in which the metallic disk Dis located. This disk upon its upper face is formed with circular or other indentations, substantially in the manner shown at d d cl. This chamber C is provided with a flange, c, between which and the flange of the' pipe A (or iiange e of a hydrant connection-plate, E,) a rubber disk, F, is fitted, as shown, to rest upon the `upper face of the corrugated disk D. For some uses, Where a great range of elasiicity is required, I allow a certain amount of play between the lower face of the disk D and its chamber, and t into a suitable recess below the chamber a rubber or coiled spring, G.

Apertures g serve to vent or waste the water under compression in the l spaces below and around the rubber parts F and G when the cushion is in action.

The'disks D F and spring G may, as is ob` vions, be arranged in any preferred way other than that shown, so as to be suitably connected with the water-pipes for the purpose designed, and the device is applicable to all classes of water-pipes in which the current of water is liable to be checked or stopped at any time.

In the operation of the device it will be seen that when, by a sudden stoppage of the discharge of water through the pipe A, the current is stopped, a certain momentum has been acquired which has an almost irresistible effect, tending to burst or break the pipe or to destroy the joints, and the cushion described herein serves as a medium upon which the momentum may spend itself, and thus save the apparatus from destruction. In action the rubber F is deflected and also pressed forcibly into the indentations or corrugations d, and when a spring, G, is used this also is compressed, so as to accumulate a gradually-increasing retractile force, acting as a gentle cushion to yieldingly resist the ramming action of the water.

By the use of this device, furthermore, the unpleasant ramming noise incident to the stoppage of water in water-pipes is entirely avoided,-and the invention also permits ofthe use of lighter material for water-pipes and less complicated `joints, with more security than usual.

Unlike an air-vessel which has been employed for analogous purposes, and is found to lose its air eventually, and thus have no elastic medium left, my device retains its operative functions always without danger or risk of having it interfered with by any extraneous or accidental cause.

I claiml. In connection with the interior of waterpipes, the elastic disk F and corrugated or indented plate D d operating in conjunction, substantially in the manner as and for the purpose specified. V

2. In connection with the interior of waterpipes, the elastic disk F, corrugated or indented plate D d, and rubber or metallic spring G, operating in conjunction, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

In testimony `of which invention I hereunto FRANK MILLwAR-D, J. L. WARTMANN. 

